The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office carried out a court-ordered eviction Thursday at New Orleans Cremation Service Inc., removing human remains from the business and transferring them to the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office, officials said. Deputies enforced the order at the facility along I-10 Service Road and reported that the operation concluded without incident. The sheriff’s office described its role as a statutory enforcement duty and said it did not make decisions about disposition or licensing.
Eviction carried out by sheriff deputies
According to WGNO, Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies first served court papers on New Orleans Cremation Service Inc., then executed the judge’s eviction order on site. The agency told the station it coordinated with the coroner ahead of time and that deputies completed the enforcement at the scene without confrontation.
Court order and seizure history
Public court notices show the property at 9200 I-10 Service Road was the subject of a writ of seizure and sale in a suit filed by First Guaranty Insurance Company, with a public auction notice published late last year. The notice, filed with the court, indicates the eviction stems from a longer-running civil collection process rather than routine licensing enforcement, according to Louisiana Public Notice, and the sale notice is part of the public record.
Coroner took custody of remains
Per WGNO, the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office accepted custody of the human remains after deputies completed the eviction. The sheriff’s office emphasized that its involvement was strictly to enforce the court order, while the coroner is responsible for identification, custody and disposition.
Regulatory backdrop
State board records show New Orleans Cremation Service and its owner, Gary Lewis, have been the subject of disciplinary proceedings before the Louisiana State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. Minutes from an August 2025 meeting list the matter as remanded for further deliberation, according to Louisiana State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. Those administrative records indicate regulatory and civil actions have been unfolding in parallel to the court collection process.
What comes next
At this stage, the coroner, the Civil District Court and state regulators appear set to handle disposition, claims and any remaining licensing questions. Families with concerns about specific cases are being directed to follow statements from the coroner’s office and to review court filings for updates as the legal and administrative processes move forward.
